BILL PIPPIN COLLECTION
No. 7250. North American NA-105 XP-51G Mustang (43-43335 c/n 105-25931) US Army Air Forces
APS No. 4485

North American NA-105 XP-51G Mustang

12/31/2007. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The NA-105 XP-51G was initially ordered as an XP-51F lightweight version of the Mustang. The five XP-51Fs (USAAF s/n 43-43332 to 43-43336) would have reduced weight, simplified systems, improved maintenance, and enhanced performance while still using the same Packard V-1650-3 engines. While under construction the last two XP-51Fs were converted to XP-51Gs and fitted with an 1,910 hp Rolls-Royce RM-145M Merlin engine.

For the first flight in August 1943, three pilots and three dates are stated: Joe Barton on the 9th, Edward Virgin on the 10th, and Bob Chilton on the 12th. The second aircraft flew on November 14, 1943. The five-bladed Rotol propeller had been fitted only once, for the fifth flight of 43-43332 that lasted just 20 minutes, and proved a failure. All other flights by the two XP-51Gs were made with a four-bladed Aeroproducts Unimatic A-542-B1 propeller fitted.

The second XP-51G was shipped to the UK in February 1944, with the serial FR410 it was flown at A&AEE Boscombe Down at least till February 1945, its fate is unknown. The first aircraft was still in existance in 2001, it had been rescued from the scrap heap by John Morgan of La Canada, California, in 1975. It present whereabouts is unknown."


Created December 31, 2007